Nottingham travel guide - Wikitravel 12 Get out Nottingham [1] is a city in England , affectionately known as the "Queen of the Midlands". It is famed for its links with the world-renowned legend Robin Hood and has a wealth of history, with a settlement existing in the area since pre-Roman times. Today, Nottingham is a premier shopping destination and one of the top ten most visited cities in England by overseas tourists. Understand[ edit ] Nottingham from the castle Nottingham is one of three major cities in the East Midlands of England , the others being nearby Leicester and Derby . Its prosperity is historically derived mostly from the lace making and coal-mining industries, little of which now remains. Nottingham has moved towards a more service-based economy. The centre of Nottingham lies on the River Leen and its southern boundary follows the course of the River Trent, which flows from Stoke to the Humber. According to the 2001 census, Nottingham has an estimated city population of 275,100. The Nottingham Urban Area conurbation (which includes surrounding suburbs outside the city boundary, and neighbouring towns) has a population of 666,358 (2001 Census).

Nottingham is a member of the English Core Cities Group. The heart of the city is the Old Market Square, which underwent a major redevelopment in 2006. Most of the main shopping streets are around the square. The Council House, whose disproportionately tall dome can be seen for miles around, is at the top of the square. The inside of the Council House is the Exchange Arcade, a shopping centre. A bohemian quarter of the city known as Hockley [2] has arisen in recent years, situated close to the Lace Market area. Nottingham receives a lot of tourism, mostly because of the legend of Robin Hood, visiting Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Castle. By plane[ edit ] East Midlands Airport - Nottingham, Leicester, Derby [3] (IATA: EMA) lies south-west of Nottingham and flights are available to many international destinations. The Skylink [4] bus runs between the airport and city centre every 30 minutes 4am-11pm and hourly 11pm-4am. The bus journey takes approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions, and costs £5 for a single or day return ticket.

Birmingham International Airport (IATA: BHX) is approx. 40 miles from Nottingham and serves all major international destinations. Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport (IATA: DSA) lies to the north of Nottinghamshire. By train[ edit ] Nottingham is on the main line out of London St Pancras. The cheapest tickets between London and Nottingham are available from EM Trains [5] but must be bought well in advance. There are also regular connections to Birmingham , Derby , Leicester , Crewe , Sheffield , and Leeds . Note that trains from London to Sheffield do not stop at Nottingham. Turn right out of the station for an easy 5 minute walk to the city centre. The Nottingham Tram [6] runs from Nottingham main line station through the city centre and out to Hucknall park and ride and Phoenix Park park and ride to the north of the city. By car[ edit ] From the south, travel on the M1 and exit at junction 24 or 25 or use the A606. From the North take the M1 junction 25 or 26.

There is a choice of 7 Park and Ride [7] sites with over 4000 spaces, located at easy points around the City . By bus[ edit ] Nottingham has two sizeable bus stations, Broadmarsh [8] and Victoria [9] . Traveline: [10] , 0871 200 22 33 Bus operators offer services to most other UK destinations. GorillaBus [11] operates services to Liverpool, Manchester, Yorkshire and Birmingham. Prices start at £1, and must be pre-booked online. National Express provides cheap advance tickets on a Nottingham-London route, often for as little as a pound each way if booked early enough online. National Express also offers cheap tickets (called funfares) to many other major cities from Nottingham. By bus[ edit ] Nottingham’s bus system is one of the best in the country, with frequent, reliable services across the City and beyond. Two main operators are City Transport and Trent Barton, with smaller operators filling in the gaps between. It is not worth trying to park in the City Centre.

2 park and ride sites (Racecourse and Queen’s Drive) offer £3 car load parking with free buses into the city every 10 minutes. There are 2 bus stations: Victoria and Broadmarsh. (See map.) However, a lot of buses use on street termini such as Milton Street, Friar Lane or Collin Street. See the map. Fares are £2.00 adult single or £4.50 family all day, £3.00 adult all day and £1.00 child single. No change is given on City Transport Buses – make sure you have exact money. (Except the 1, 47 and 100) Trent Barton operate a free Centrelink bus service between Victoria Bus Station and Broadmarsh Bus Station 7am-7pm, Mon-Sat, Every 10 mins. Via Old Market Square, though in rush hour it is quicker to walk. The Red Arrow from Victoria Bus Station connects Nottingham and Derby every 10 minutes and is generally a coach. Nottingham has the best public transport service outside of London, so use it! For £4 a family/group of upto 5 can travel on NCT buses ( for the whole day.

Or further afield, trent barton offer the same thing for £8 ( The city has extensive bus services provided by two main companies, trentbarton [12] and Nottingham City Transport [13] , running from the Broadmarsh and Victoria Bus stations as well as key termini in the city centre such as Old Market Square, Parliament Street and Carrington Street. Fares: NCT+tram-only £3 day ticket or £3.40 Kangaroo ticket which is valid on any bus, tram and train within Greater Nottingham. Note: Most NCT buses do not give change. Most Trent Barton buses do, although ask the driver. Greater city fares: £1.70 single adult, 80p/£1 child. Day return on NCT £2 adult single. Buses from city to attractions[ edit ] Wollaton Park 30 (NCT, £4 ticket can be used.

every 20 mins mon-sat, every 60 mins sun) TWO (trent barton, £8 ticket, 12 mins mon-sat, 20 mins sun.) Sherwood Forest Sherwood arrow (stagecoach buses.) Forest ground/Trent Bridge cricket/Notts county: Use zig zag play trent barton or play ticket from NCT for great value travel with a valid ticket. Again, see there websites. Same for theatre royal. Buses to sport area: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 , 11, Cotgrave connection, 22, Ruddington connection, Radcliffe line, Bingham xprss Robin hood statue, Nottingham castle, galleries of justice, all in city centre. Stonebridge city farm: lilac line buses from NCT. National water sports centre: 11/11C. NCT. Use buses and park and ride for city centere, don't drive in. By tram[ edit ] Nottingham Express Transit [14] is the city's modern tram system.

It runs from Nottingham Train Station (Station Street) in the south to Hucknall in the North and with a branch to Phoenix Park (M1 Junction 26 Park and Ride site) to the northeast. The system has a number of Park and Ride sites along it, which make travel into the city centre easy. An all day tram-only ticket costs £3.50, all day tram+bus+local train is £4, single tickets are £2, Mondays to Fridays. Tickets are bought from machines at tram stops (cash and card are accepted) or from the NET shop in the city centre. You must buy a ticket or validate a travel card before boarding or you risk a fine and imprisonment. By taxi[ edit ] If you are looking for a convenient means of travel around the city centre and surrounding areas, you can choose from one of the many Nottingham taxi companies. You can pick up a black/green cab from around the city without needing to book. Other, regular cars must be booked in advance in accordance with local laws.

Nottingham Taxis [15] +44 115 882 1234 By foot[ edit ] The city centre is best explored on foot as many of the historic streets are pedestrianised or have good pedestrian access. Museums and galleries[ edit ] Nottingham castle Nottingham Castle (Warning: it is not a castle, but a small stately home.) Museum is a must-see and provides a fascinating insight into the history of Nottingham. The fine mansion also houses the country's first municipal art gallery and the beautifully maintained gardens are ideal for a lazy summer's day stroll. The famous Robin Hood statue is located just outside the castle walls. Feb-Nov, Mon-Sun 10am-5pm. Nov-Feb, Wed-Sun, 10am-4pm. Home of heroric outlaw of Robin Hood, a magnificent more stately home than castle with art gallery, museum and cave tours. Adult £6, Concession £5, Family 2+3 £18. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn [16] off Maid Marian Way - One of various pubs claiming to be the oldest pub in Britain, the "Trip" traces its existence back over 800 years.

Charming and well worth a visit if you happen to be in the city. It is located at the Brewhouse Yard, home to the Museum of Nottingham Life which shows the social change in Nottingham that has occurred over the last 300 years. Brewhouse Yard is housed in 5 17th century cottages, a good way to spend a couple of wet hours learning about the area’s history. Sat, Sun, 12pm-4pm. £2.50. City of Caves is an award-winning visitor attraction which is accessed from the upper mall of the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. It consists of a network of caves, carved out of sandstone that have been variously used over the years as a tannery, public house cellars, and as air raid shelters. Nottingham has more man-made caves than anywhere else in Britain. Tours run hourly Mon-Sun, all year, 10am-4pm. Adult £7.50, Child £5.50. Worth booking in advance in peak season. The Galleries of Justice [17] are well-worth visiting for a fascinating look at the sometimes rough justice meted out in years gone by.

n amazing tour takes you through old prison cells, court rooms and more. A well worth-while tour for all the family. There is a café but are better about for lunch. Tours run hourly Mon-Sun 10:30-16:30. Adult £9.95, Child £7.95. Joint ticket with caves available. Nottingham Contemporary [18] is the cities newest art gallery, located at the southern edge of the lace market, its building is rimmed with a delicate lace decoration which is an attraction in itself. Nottingham has a small contemporary art gallery that's normally worth a look called The Angel Row Gallery [19] . The art ranges from thought provoking, to the plain bizarre and it's located next to the Central Library Building unsurprisingly on Angel Row, just off Old Market Square. Wollaton Hall is a beautiful Elizabethan mansion in a large suburban deer park, Wollaton Park. The hall itself houses the city's Natural History Museum whilst the Industrial Museum is housed in an outbuilding. This is now fully open following restoration works. The 400 year old hall, once lived in by the Willoughby Family.

Set in acres of beautiful parkland with formal gardens, playgrounds, a large lake with beautiful walks, café, shop and the industrial museum with steaming at weekends. All attractions are free except the museum which is £2.50 per person. Open daily, all year. Buses depart from Milton Street (Nr. Victoria Centre) every 20 minutes Mon-Sat, every 60 mins Sun. In the city area, so cheap fares. Catch Nottingham City Transport 30 bus. Nottingham Council House is where Nottingham city council meet. It is located in the old market square and tours are free. (Note, you have to book in advance) Nottingham Canal: Cross Castle Boulevard from coming out of Brewhouse Yard and experience the extraordinary architecture of the Inland Revenue Site as well as strolling along the canal towpath. Castle Marina. Lovely to stroll around on a summers evening then grab a meal at one of the restaurants. Also, a very popular evening venue, is just off Canal Street with the Canal Bar where the canal enters the bar! The waterfront area is lovely to sit out on. St Mary’s Church: Not worth a particular effort, but if visiting the Galleries of Justice it is worth a look round. Free.

The National Video Game Arcade : Several floors of all kinds of games, ranging from retro console games to independent developers' games for Windows etc. One flat fee to enter and play as much as you want. Also contains The Toast Bar, which sells a limited selection of drinks, toast-based snacks, and cakes. Open Saturday and Sunday 9am-6pm (also open during the week in local school holidays). Located in the Lace Market Historic sites out of town[ edit ] Most of these places will require a bus/tram journey, but are only in a 5-10 mile radius of the city centre, so very accessible. Newstead Abbey [20] , the beautiful home of local poet Lord Byron is located 12 miles north of the city. It is well worth a visit, and the website supplies extensive information on how to travel to the site. Lord Byron was buried in Hucknall Church, and his tomb can be seen inside the church which is situated at the end of Hucknall's high street, a few minutes walk from the Hucknall tram stop. Sherwood Forest Country Park is the ancient royal hunting forest situated to the North of Nottingham, stretching throughout Nottinghamshire and up to South Yorkshire.

The remnants of Sherwood form a number of country parks and estates. Clumber Park , about 30 miles north on the A614, is a vast area of parkland and woods owned by the National Trust, good for walking and cycling (bicycle hire available). Sherwood Pines Country Park houses a CenterParcs village, a Go Ape aerial assault course, and woodland walking. And Sherwood Forest Country Park has the historic "Sherwood" which visitors may be looking for - the Major Oak which was said to be the hideout of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws. The tired visitor centre is due for replacement, and many visitors are surprised to find the Oak is actually in the Birklands, an area of birch trees. The Thoresby Hall estate is run by Warner holidays as a "just for adults" centre, and Welbeck Abbey is now a military college. Westbridgford is a town on the southern edge of the city, bordering the River Trent. It was founded by the same pilgrim fathers that founded many American Settlements. It has beautiful long avenues, and has a picturesque central park and registry office.

It also houses some of the city's greatest sporting venues, and the grand 'County Hall', overlooking the river. Attenborough Nature Reserve (Opened by Sir David although named after the local village) is well worth a walk round. At the visitor centre, trails lead off and maps can be purchased. There is a trifle expensive café and shop, although an ice cream van is normally in the car park. Free. The nearest bus stop to the visitor centre is 5-10 minutes’ walk, although it is pleasant along the paths. Trent Barton “Indigo” bus service departs Broadmarsh Bus Station every 10 mins Mon-Sat and every 15 mins Sun. Along the other side of the reserve, The River Trent runs through with pleasant walks and boat activity. University of Nottingham. The University Park campus has a beautiful lake, play area, theatre, café and art gallery. The Rhododendrons and Azaleas are lovely in the right season. Ask the bus driver for “Highfields” and get any of these Trent Barton buses: “Indigo” from Broadmarsh, 18 from Broadmarsh, “Skylink” from Broadmarsh or Yourbus Y5 from Maid Marian Way.

Buses run 7 days a week, every 3-4 minutes. Ruddington. 2 buses run to Ruddington, both use the city fare scheme. Trent Barton Ruddington Connection leaves from Broadmarsh every 15 minutes and City Transport 10 leaves from Collin Street every 15 minutes. Both 7 days week. Rushcliffe Country Park is acres of parkland with a particularly good playground for children and a kiosk with bike hire. Free. The Framework Knitters Museum provides a fascinating insight into life as a Victorian knitter with displays and demonstrations. £2 donation. Transport Heritage Centre is a fantastic attraction with old buses and at weekends a ride on narrow railway at 50p per ride. Great Central Railway departs from Ruddington using steam trains down to Loughborough and back. A great journey in Victorian times! Dates and fares vary, around £12 adult return. Hemlock Stone is situated in Bramcote Woods. A great place to stretch the legs and see a remarkable geographical feature. Trent Barton 18 leaves from Broadmarsh Bus Station every 30 minutes Mon-Sat and Trent Barton 20 on a Sun every 60 mins.

Green’s Mill, home to mathematician George Green is a fully working windmill, family science centre and museum. A fantastic way to spend a couple of hours. Wed-Sun 10am-4pm. Free. Catch City Transport 43 bus from Kings Street, every 10 mins 7 days a week. Formed from a former gravel pit, Colwick Country Park covers 250 acres of parkland. From angling and sailing to walking and jogging, it is perfect on a warm day. There is also a playground and a marina. Citylink 2 runs Mon-Sat only, every 10 mins from Collin Street and drops off at the entrance. Holme Pierrepoint Hall. If you’re here when it is open, it is well worth a visit. The snowdrops in the wood are a beautiful sight and the hall is worth a visit too. Feb-Mar, Sun-Tue, 2pm-5pm. Apr, Sun 2pm-5pm. Adult £5, Child Free. See NWSC for how to get there. National Water Sports Centre. From white water rafting to canoeing or sailing, book on water sports course and have fantastic fun.

For the more relaxed, take a stroll along the river bank with playgrounds and a café. There is also a high ropes course for those with a head for heights (£20+ adult.) Green line 11 from Collin Street operates every 10 mins and stops 10 mins walk away. On Sunday’s 11C takes you straight to the centre. L23 bus from West Bridgford also operates 2 hourly. Theatre and cinema[ edit ] The two largest theatres are the Theatre Royal [21] (Royal Centre tramstop), and Nottingham Playhouse [22] (on Wellington Circus, near Derby Road). Theatres also include the Lace Market Theatre [23] (on Halifax Place, near Fletcher Gate). Further out of town, in Nottingham University's Highfields Park is the Lakeside Arts Centre [24] , containing a small but excellent theatre. A nationally recognised independent cinema called Broadway [25] is located on Broad Street in Hockley , as is the worlds smallest cinema (just 21 seats!), the Screen Room [26] closed as of January 2011.

Sporting venues[ edit ] Go ice skating at the National Ice Centre Catch a game of Ice Hockey at the National Ice Centre home of the GMB Nottingham Panthers, the oldest and best supported team in the UK. Get your tickets in advance and ask for tickets at the 'bowl end' in order to be in amongst the locals (and at the end where the 'Panthers' shoot twice). If you happen to be visiting Nottingham at the same time that they are taking on arch rivals the Sheffield Steelers then get your tickets in advance as these games nearly always sell out - prepare youself for 7000 people screaming on their team and a war on the ice - these teams do not like each other (though there is never any fan based violence). Another Hockey match worth going to is the Nottingham Trent University vs University of Nottingham Varsity match held once a year and is the biggest varsity outside North America. Visit Holme Pierrepont, home to the National Watersports Centre. Watch International test cricket at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground near the banks of the River Trent. Nottingham Tennis Centre hosts the Nottingham Open each year in the week running up to Wimbledon. Watch football at The City Ground or Meadow Lane, homes of Nottingham Forest F.C.

and Notts County F.C. respectively Nottingham Activity Centre the professionals choice for quality clay shooting. Stag and Hen, Corporate and private tuition available Try your hand at Clay Shooting at Nottingham & District Gun Club Go Climbing at The Climbing Depot (300 yards from victoria centre) or The Climbing Centre. Both allow you to walk in and climb. Practice or Play Pool or Snooker at Rileys in the town square or Spot On in Sneinton. Many pubs in Nottingham have pool tables unlike Birmingham and Derby. Bicycle. Much of Nottingham is fun to cycle around. Along the Trent river is nice all year around. Pedestrians don't mind bicycles on the pavement. Be sociable. Try some of Nottinghams venues of all types. With so many you'll find one you like. Parks[ edit ] There are many parks and green spaces throughout the city and its surroundings. Use google maps satellite view to find as with any city. In the summer you can hire a rowing boat on the beautiful grounds of The University of Nottingham. Nottingham Castle has extensive grounds, which are planted beautifully in the summer time. Each summer open air theatre performances are held in the grounds.

The Nottingham Arboretum (between Nottingham Trent University tram stop and High School tram stop) hosts open air music in the park at weekends in summer. Woolaton Hall is accessible by bus and has very pleasant grounds and Nature pond. Colwick park is also very nice for a long or short walk. Events[ edit ] Nottingham's Goose Fair [27] is held on the Forest recreation ground (at the Forest tram stop) on the first weekend of October each year. It is one of Britain's largest funfairs and has existed more than 700 years. Entry is free. The Riverside Festival at Victoria Embankment is held on a weekend at the start of August each year. It features live music, markets and fairs topped off with a huge fireworks display. The Nottingham Vs Nottingham Trent annual Varsity series is the largest outside of North America. Nottingham LGBT Pride is usually held on the last Saturday of July in Arboretum Park, 5/10 minutes walk from the city centre however, from 24 July 2010, it will be held at its new venue of Forest Fields Recreational Ground; the site of the famous Goose Fair.

The event consists of numerous stages of music,acts;etc aswell as many stalls and stands from organisations etc - and , of course, food and drink areas! It attracts people not just from the Nottingham area; but from neighbouring counties and regions such as South Yorkshire and Derbyshire;etc, aswell as most likely people from much further afield. Nottingham is therefore a gay friendly city and is accepting of LGBT people with a notable gay visibility. (The city has the third highest percentage of people in same sex partnerships, according to the 2001 census, of the eight English core cities after Manchester and Bristol.) It is referred to as the gay capital of the Midlands - or "Queen of the Midlands"; and the LGBT community are down to earth and friendly; as is the general culture of Nottingham. Learn[ edit ] Nottingham has two major universities: University of Nottingham [28] . A traditional, Russell group university offering everything one might expect including medicine, law, engineering and a recently opened veterinary school. Graduates from Nottingham are well respected and it has an excellent research reputation in more or less anything it touches. Nottingham Trent University [29] . While technically a "new university", Trent punches well above its weight.

Strengths include journalism, law, biosciences and perhaps the best school of education in the East Midlands. Graduates of Nottingham Trent are the most employed in the country, with over 90% of graduates landing in their preferred career within 6 months of graduation. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Lace Centre Nottingham has two large shopping centres at either end of the City Centre "The Victoria Centre" and "Broadmarsh". The Victoria Centre is the more modern of the two, and has more shops & facilities, although Broadmarsh is on the eve of a huge redevelopment which will more than double its size. Between the two are the main shopping streets: Lister Gate and Clumber Street are home to High Street names, while designer labels can be found on Bridlesmith Gate, Victoria Street and in the Exchange Arcade, within the Council House on Market Square. The alternative shopper will find Hockley Village a haven, focused around Goose Gate, the cities Bohemian district. To buy a Nottingham memento, go to the Lace Centre on the corner of Castle Gate, opposite the Robin Hood statue, to buy traditional Nottingham lace. With regards to the alternative music and fashion scene, Nottingham is highly regarded and caters well for obscure and eclectic tastes.

Selectadisc, just a short walk from the Market Square is one of just two in the country, the other being in Soho, London. Selectadisc is widely considered to stock the best indie and alternative music selection in the city, yet it is commonly felt that, for more helpful and down-to-earth staff, the soon-to-be re-opened Fopp store (on the next road) is more reliable. Now one of just six Fopp stores in the country, this store often stages in store sessions and offers a wide selection of independent DVDs and fanzines and CDs from unsigned acts. Void, Wild (and its sister store Wilder) and the local favourite Ice Nine can all be found in the bohemian district of Hockley. These stores can often become busy over the weekend in particular, but many original retro and vintage fashion items can be found for very cheap prices here. Shopping centers[ edit ] Victoria Centre: The City’s main shopping centre has the usual high street stores as well as an independent market Broadmarsh Centre: A smaller range of chain stores, although often less busy. Includes a crèche and cycle hire point. Exchange Arcade: The place to go for up-market independent stores.

Hockley: If you love quirky, individual stores, Hockley is the place for you. From selling traditional Nottingham lace to gothic clothes, it sells everything at bargain prices Old Market Square: Around the main square, Clumber Street and Fletcher Gate lead off with mainly chain stores. There is no market, despite the name. Budget[ edit ] Gusto, 2 Gedling Street, Nottingham NG1 1DS, +44 115 924 2494 (info@gustonottingham.co.uk) [30] Open Monday to Saturday until 7:30 PM. Simple and authentic Italian food in this deli located just east of the National Ice Centre. Terrific pizza and pasta and friendly Italian staff. £5 to £7 per main. Generous portions. Wagamama, The Cornerhouse, Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4DB +44 115 924 1797 [31] Open late every day. Chain serving affordable Japanese-style ramen, as well as fried noodle and rice dishes. £5 to £8 per main.

It's usually busy and cafeteria-style benches mean you will rub elbows with your fellow diners. The Kean's Head, 46 St. Mary's Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA, +44 115 947 4052 [32] Open daily from late morning until late. This small pub in the Lace Market area serves simple but tasty food, ranging from sandwiches to traditional English pub food to more Italian-influenced fare. £4 to £8 per dish. Non-smoking, and an excellent selection of beers to match your food. The Alley Cafe, 1A Cannon Court, Long Row, Nottingham, NG1 6JE, +44 115 955 1013. This small bar and restaurant located on a tiny alley on the north-western part of Old Market Square serves vegetarian and vegan meals and sandwiches, £4 to £10 per meal. Draught beer served as well. Desi Downtown, 7 Hockley, NG1 1FH (near the ice stadium), +44 115 950 2666, Open kitchen is a piece of theatre in itself.

Very reasonably priced dishes both familiar and more unusual. Vibrant atmosphere, booking advised at the weekend, shisha pipe lounge at the back. Cash only. Nottingham also has the usual range of chain restaurants and bars that you can find in many cities across the UK - for a budget meal (and drink) JD Wetherspoons is always worth trying - there are also a number of budget restaurants along Mansfield Road not far from the Victoria Shopping Centre There is a pedestrianised street full of eateries of varying quality next to the Cornerhouse. These restaurants range from a Pizza Hut and a Subway, to a brassiere (Punchinellos) with an excellent pre-theatre menu. There is also a wide variety of takeaways in Nottingham, catering for many different tastes. Mid-range[ edit ] Annies Burger Shack, 5 Broadway, Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1PR (enquiries@anniesburgershack.com) [33] An amazing array of burgers are available, with various toppings and sauces. All burgers come in meaty, vegetarian, or vegan.

(£10-£15) French Living, 27 King Street, Nottingham NG1 2AY, +44 115 958 5885 (info@frenchliving.co.uk) [34] Lunch Tu-Fr 12PM-2PM Sa 12PM-2.30PM Dinner Tu-Sa 6PM-10PM Excellent bistro run by a French couple. The Onglet a l'Echalotte is beautiful and there is a good variety of prix fixe menus. (£15-£25) Las Iguanas, +44 115 959 6390 (nottingham@iguanas.co.uk) [35] . This is a wonderful Brazilian restaurant and we really enjoyed our food. It's just east of the main town square. Chai Yo, 2 Upper Parliament Terrace (near the Alea casino) NG1 5FX, +44 115 950 6224, First-rate home-style Thai cooking, very friendly service and won't burn a hole in your pocket.

Mintons Tearoom, 100 Church Road, Greasley, Nottingham NG16 2AB, +44 1773 710426 [36] . Very friendly cafe with homemade cakes, hot meals, and a wide selection of drinks. Beautiful English countryside just outside of Nottingham. The Ferry Inn, Main Road, Wilford Village. [37] . Though it is part of the popular and well established chain Chef and Brewer, the restaurant holds its own unique charm. It is arguably one of the oldest restaurants in Nottingham, overlooking the historic route into the city crossing the River Trent (hence the name) and is within the quaint and beautiful village of Wilford. The restaurant offers a wide menu with budget dining up to fresh local specialties that are there for guests to splurge their money on and enjoy the delicious food that the country has to offer. Splurge[ edit ] Hart's Restaurant [38] Owned by Tim Hart of Hambleton Hall fame. At lunch time the Hart's formula includes "lunch for less" with two or three courses from a shorted menu for £16 - £18 per person. There are various fixed price menus in the evenings too.

Meal prices for two with three course and wine in the evening will approach £80+. World Service Similar formula to Hart's - some of the owners used to work there! Regularly top of the pops in the "Nottingham Restaurant of the Year" awards. Restaurant Sat Bains [39] Arguably one of the best restaurants throughout Central England, Sat Bains is of course managed by Sat Bain. The restaurant has two Michelin stars, and is located on the banks of the River Trent. The restaurant also features a bed and breakfast offer. All of which comes as one of the most expensive restaurants in the Midlands as well. Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] Including Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (allegedly built in 1189) which is below the castle and often on the tourist trail there are over 400 licensed premises in the square mile around the centre of Nottingham. A good place to start is the trendy Lace Market area east of Market Square where you will also find many good restaurants. Around the market square there are licensed premises of all types including nightclubs, late bars, wine bars, pubs and restaurant/bar establishments. The area on the canal side around the Canal House pub tends to be a little more discerning.

The Hockley area also provides a range of pleasant bars to suit a range of budgets. The Cornerhouse complex (near the Royal Centre tram stop) contains some really nice bars, particularly Revolution, and close to this is The Orange Tree on Shakespeare Street. Slightly further out of the centre in the multicultural and vibrant area known as Sneinton is a wonderful pub called the Lord Nelson with a great garden and real ales. The other historic pubs include The Bell, situated in the Market Square, and the Salutation, on Maid Marian Way, both of which can trace a long history and lay claim to having resident ghosts. Ask at a quiet moment for a tour of the Salutation's cellars, dug by hand into the sandstone rock below the pub and used in centuries past as a secure brewing area. Rock City hosts one of the biggest student disco nites in town, with standard dance/pop music, when popular live rock bands aren't playing in town. For a different experience, try 'The Church' bar with a slightly more mature crowd, which as the name suggest was originally a large Anglican church, still complete with gothic decor and stained glass windows.

Juju is good dance bar, that is open till 3 or 4am on the weekends, with free entry. Budget[ edit ] Igloo Hostel, [40] . For £15.00 a night, the Igloo is a very nice hostel and a great choice to spend one or more nights in Nottingham. A 5 minute walk from the centre of town, It's very clean and has 24 hot water in all the bathrooms. It has a fully equipped kitchen with stove, oven, fridge, toaster, and the most important equipment in a kitchen: a radio. The Igloo provides free tea, and coffee all day as well as free wifi and internet. It also has a comfortable, friendly common room, with a TV and many DVDs if you are tired and want to rest and watch something. Lots of books and board games can be easily found as well. A board with several tips of good cheap places to eat and drink can be found in the common room. Downstairs, the Games room offers a Ps2, Pool table and Fooz Ball. Unquestionably, a very good and friendly place! Midtown Hostel, [41] .

£16 a night Midtown Hostel has lots of good things going for it. It's clean, in a great location (just 1 minute walk from the main square), hot water in the showers, free internet, decent kitchen (does have oven, does not have stove, has large fridge to store food in), PS2 and a few games, and free coffee and tea. The beds are reasonably comfortable (but some do squeak). Reports of noisy parties at night. ibis Nottingham, [42] . Ibis Nottingham Centre hotel is a budget hotel in The Lace Market of Nottingham city centre. Mid-range[ edit ] Days Hotel Nottingham, 17-31 Wollaton Street, Nottingham, NG1 5FW, ☎ 0115 912 8000 ( reception@dayshotelnottingham.co.uk , fax: 0115 912 8080), [43] . checkin: 2pm (early check-in by arrangement); checkout: 11am (late check-out by arrangement). This Days hotel features non-smoking rooms that include bath and/or shower, work desk, TV with freeview and complimentary broadband.

Some rooms have been adapted to allow for easier access. Full or continental breakfasts are available for £10. £79.95 (up to two children can stay free of charge, or for 75% if staying in a separate room.. edit Jury's Inn, Waterfront Plaza, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3BJ, ☎ +44 115 901 6700‎, [44] . Car parking is roughly five minutes from the hotel grounds, with many shops and restaurants close by. Well-equipped room with TV, hair-dryer, coffee/tea and biscuits and internet access. edit Holiday Inn Express, 7 Chapel Quarter, Nottingham, NG1 6JS, ☎ +44 115 941 9931‎, [45] . This hotel is in the centre of the city centre and is of the high standards of the Holiday Inn chain, with a spacious room, comfortable beds and friendly staff. From £70.

edit Rutland Square Hotel, St James Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 6FJ, ☎ 0115 941 1114, [46] . checkin: 2pm; checkout: 11am. The Rutland Square Hotel, Nottingham has an enviable location in the heart of the city, retaining its period elegance, whilst offering comfortable accommodation. £40 - £60 pppn. edit Park Inn Hotel Nottingham, ☎ 0115 9988, [47] . Comfortable hotel less than a mile from the city centre. edit SACO Apartments, The Ropewalk, Nottingham NG1 5BB, [48] . checkin: 16:00; checkout: 10:00. Conveniently located near the city centre with easy access to Queens Medical Hospital and the University of Nottingham. Thankfully there are no surprises in the rooms as they meet their website descriptions and pictures perfectly, with friendly reception staff and all the facilities you need, even for a long-term stay. from £64 per night.

edit Novotel Nottingham /Derby Hotel,Bostock Lane Long Eaton M1 Junction 25 , ☎(+44)2477/092804, Novotel Nottingham /Derby Hotel is 8 miles from Nottingham and Derby city centre. This hotel is an ideal base for trips to the Peak District and Donnington Park. From £30. Mercure Nottingham City Centre Hotel, 2 George Street Lace Market, NG1 3BP, ☎ (+44) 115 959 9777 ( h8061@accor.com , fax: (+44) 115 958 1335), [49] . The George Hotel is a contemporary boutique style Nottingham Hotel in the fashionable Lace Market area, right in the heart of Nottingham's City Centre. edit Stay safe[ edit ] Nottingham has been highlighted by the media for gun and knife crime although the actual incidence in 2004/5 was 19 offences per 100,000 population (compared to 50 per 100,000 population for both Greater Manchester and London) [56] .

The reality is that Nottingham is not a dangerous city in spite of its reputation, and, provided you act sensibly, you will be safe. It is best to avoid walking late at night through St Ann's (a council estate northeast of the Victoria shopping centre) and The Meadows (between the railway station and the river), although the Victoria Embankment along the river is quite safe. Pickpocketing is an ongoing problem around the city square and on the transportation system. Also, the wearing of Derby County shirts should be avoided due to the rivalry between the main football team Nottingham Forest and Derby County. The rivalry is strong. Derby Country shirts worn in Nottingham have been known to lead to stabbings and attacks. Keep in the tourist areas. At night, outside the city centre, are some dangerous areas ie Radford to the west, St Anns to the east, Meadows to the south. Radford is unfortunately known for knife crime, illegal drug use, stabbings etc. Pick pocketing in the city centre comes from organized gangs from places listed above and target tourists. Just be careful.

Question: Which English city is nicknamed The Lace City
Answer: Nottingham